This Physician’s Assessment of Flu Vaccines in Pregnancy

Primum non nocore, the philosophy attributed to Hippocrates, is taught to every medical student in the country. A doctor has two objectives at all times: The obvious objective is to heal, but the overruling objective, before all others, is to do no harm.

All interventions carry some risk, and we often accept these risks. A patient with cancer may willingly undergo chemotherapy with full knowledge that there will be serious, even potentially life-threatening side effects.

When the risk of doing nothing is quite high, the risk of any given intervention may be justifiable. But the burden of proof of safety should be far greater for interventions designed to prevent illness, rather than treat it.

Vaccinations are such an example.

Vaccines are given to healthy individuals in the hope that they will provide protection against infection.

But hope is not science. We will explore the science.

In the case of flu shots given in pregnancy, there are two individuals to consider. If recommended, an influenza vaccine must be safe for both a mother and her unborn child. Many physicians and researchers question this purported safety.

In the later stages of pregnancy, the growing baby occupies space normally available for a mother’s diaphragm to expand. This can lead to shortness of breath, even under normal conditions. Because of this physiological change, pregnant women who contract influenza are at greater risk of breathing difficulties and hospitalization than women who contract influenza but are not pregnant. Given this observation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended the administration of influenza vaccines to pregnant women in 2004.Because a mother’s antibodies freely cross the placenta, it was thought that some degree of protection might be provided to her baby as well. The safety and efficacy of flu vaccination in pregnancy are in question, however.

In a study published in the May issue of the British Medical Journal, Giuseppe Traversa and colleagues assessed maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes of women given the influenza A/H1N1 vaccine. The outcomes of over 86,000 pregnancies revealed that vaccinated women had significantly higher rates of gestational diabetes and eclampsia. Eclampsia is the development of seizures in a woman with severe toxemia (also known as pre-eclampsia), a condition characterized by high blood pressure and protein loss in the urine. Eclampsia is fatal in 2% of women and can result in long-term health problems in those who survive. Fetal complications, including neurological damage and death, are common. Both gestational diabetes and eclampsia are related to inflammation and immune dysregulation, making the connection to the immune stimulation of the flu vaccine very plausible.

Do flu vaccines cause inflammation in pregnant women?

There has been surprisingly little research in this area, but a study by Christian et al following pregnant women given a seasonal flu vaccine found an increase in two inflammatory markers, C reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a). Increases in these inflammatory compounds indicate a significant level of inflammation, which was identified during the first two days following vaccination.

This increase of inflammation was confirmed in a study published this week that documented a higher level of post-vaccine immune activation in pregnant women than in non-pregnant controls receiving flu vaccines.

An earlier study by Lisa Christian, Ph.D. and her colleagues found that pregnant women suffering from depression developed a more marked inflammatory response to influenza vaccines than women who did not have symptoms of depression.

There is reason to be concerned about these findings. A recent study by Alan Brown, M.D. and his colleagues of over 1.2 million pregnant women found that elevations in CRP, the same marker of inflammation that increases after flu vaccination, are associated with a 43% greater risk of having a child with autism.

Millions of women who are pregnant or hoping to become pregnant in the near future now face the annual decision of whether or not to receive a flu shot. This is not a decision that should be made without careful consideration of the new data available.

While intended to protect pregnant women and their babies, influenza vaccines may inadvertently be doing more harm than good.

In addition to the unwanted inflammatory and immune-stimulating effects of flu vaccines, there are many concerns about their formulation. Mercury, a potent neurotoxin, is found in the preservative thimerosal, which is 49.6% ethylmercury by weight. Because the FDA recommended the immediate reduction or elimination of mercury in infant vaccines in 1999 and the 2001 Institute of Medicine report on thimerosal recommended “full consideration be given by appropriate professional societies and government agencies to removing thimerosal from vaccines administered to infants, children, and pregnant women in the Unites States,” many people, including physicians, are under the impression that all vaccines are now mercury free. As most of our readers know, that is NOT the case.

Mercury is a fat-soluble toxin that easily crosses the placenta and accumulates in fetal tissue. For reasons that are not yet clear, fetal mercury levels become even higher than maternal levels. The effects of mercury on brain development can be devastating.

In spite of these known facts, thimerosal-containing flu vaccines are routinely given to pregnant women. The mercury content of these flu shots is 250 times higher than the level the EPA classifies as hazardous waste. Unused mercury-containing flu vaccines must be disposed of as hazardous waste, yet they are approved for use in pregnant women and infants.

We are currently being bombarded by reminders to get our annual flu shot. Pharmacies, grocery stores, and news reports would lead us to believe that everyone needs one. Obstetricians are routinely recommending them to their patients, as advised by the CDC and their medical organizations, but they are likely unaware of the research findings reviewed above. It is also unlikely that your doctor knows that the largest trial of influenza efficacy in pregnancy to date, following nearly 50,000 pregnant women over five flu seasons, found that the rate of influenza-like illness in vaccinated women was identical to the rate of illness in women who were not vaccinated.

I completed my obstetrics and gynecology residency in 1990. At the time, we were taught that vaccines should never be given during pregnancy, as it is a delicate state of immunosuppression. A woman’s immune system must remain partially suppressed to prevent the rejection of her baby, who carries proteins coded by paternal genes. Any immune stimulation could tip the scales, allowing a mother’s immune system to recognize fetal tissue as foreign and mount an immune response against it. This phenomenon has been documented by Braunschweig, Zimmerman, Pirasa, and other researchers in a percentage of mothers whose children developed autism.

Many women question the wisdom of flu vaccination during pregnancy, but are unable to articulate their concerns during prenatal visits. I am a former obstetrician who has spent over 24 years protecting women and children from environmental toxins and the past 19 years studying the potential causes of the autism epidemic. Allow me to be the bridge between you and your doctor, family members, or friends who question your decision not to get vaccinated while pregnant.

I have included a list of references cited for your doctors or other health care providers to review and I encourage you to print this article and bring it to your doctor’s office. Please help us educate both physicians and the general public by sharing this information by email, Facebook, and printed copies.

As a physician, researcher, and mother of two adults with autism, I have studied this subject extensively. In the face of so much evidence of risk and an unconvincing promise of benefit, I cannot recommend vaccinations of any kind during pregnancy.

Hippocrates would agree.

Dr. Cindy Schneider, M.D. was board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology and is now the medical director of the Center for Autism Research and Education. She is has published over 20 peer-reviewed research papers about genetic vulnerability to environmental toxins and other autism-related topics. Dr. Schneider serves on the faculty at the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs and is a Medical Advisor to three outstanding organizations, SafeMinds, TACA, and the Healthy U Now Foundation.

Excellent article that has me questioning more...
Could you clarify for me if the development of antiphospholipid antibodies and elevated CRP levels are thought to be more a result of the Thimerosal or to the basic immune response to the vaccine?

This is such a great article, with excellent references. I am currently a Nurse Midwifery student, and I am so frustrated by the pressure that is placed on our patients to receive the flu vaccine. I even witnessed one Midwife telling a patient that she could get dehydrated from vomiting and diarrhea, leading to preterm labor, if she didn't get the vaccine. We all know how ridiculous that is, but it was made worse by the fact that she then told the patient that her baby would get the flu. It sounded as though she meant in utero, which is completely untrue. It made me sad to know that she was either that misinformed herself, or that she would lie to get the patient to accept the vaccine. This has got to change!

We are being told to be extra careful while pregnant... Not to drink any alcohol, avoid sea food or even eggs... But we have no issues with serving ourselves and are babie a bloody chemical cocktail !!! Only because doctor said so...
Surgeries are being paid for hitting 90% target so wake up people, this isn't about our health anymore x

Thank you so much for this!! I am currently pregnant with twins & my doctor has been pushing me to get the flu shot. I have never chosen to get the flu shot before & I am not going to start now. Thank you again!

No, hope is not science; and science, while powerful, still isn't the pudding wherein lies the proof. At TheVaccineMyth.org you'll find an interview with Cathy Lynn Isaacs, who lost one of the healthy, active twins she was carrying within 24 hours of a flu shot; the other was born vaccine damaged, shown to be mercury poisoned in subsequent tests. The mere fact that scientists, doctors, have no way to predict what fetus or child will be so affected should be enough to preclude the vaccine's use.
Dr. Schneider, I would love to interview you on my show.

Critically-important and superbly-written article, Dr. Schneider...THANK YOU! There is a portion of a statement you make with which I disagree and feel compelled to comment on: "While intended to protect pregnant women and their babies, influenza vaccines may inadvertently be doing more harm than good." I do not for one minute believe that influenza vaccines were ever intended to protect pregnant women and their babies. Rather, I believe the CDC's recommendation that pregnant women and infants be vaccinated with the flu vaccine was made for 2 reasons. First, the recommendation was an attempt to keep hidden what mercury-laden vaccines did to a decade and a half of children. The CDC did not want the public to see what would happen if mercury was removed from vaccines, because they knew there would be a stark difference in the skyrocketing autism rate (it would begin to decline rapidly), not to mention a stark difference in the rate of other vaccine-induced childhood disorders and chronic illnesses (they, too, would begin to decline rapidly). Thus, mercury was never required to be removed from vaccines, and instead, it was included as an ingredient in vaccines recommended for pregnant women and infants. That was not a coincidence. To make matters worse, and to further try to protect themselves, they allowed the increasing of aluminum in vaccines, up to 3X in some vaccines. They permitted this knowing that aluminum is neurotoxic and problematic in and of itself, and even more so when combined with mercury, which they were still allowing in vaccines along with the increased amounts of aluminum. Criminal and immoral, to say the very least. Secondly, there is an unholy alliance between CDC officials and pharmaceutical companies...some call it a revolving door. It works like this...CDC official approves vaccines for pharmaceutical company (vaccine safety and efficacy are non-issues), and CDC official is soon offered a lucrative and powerful position at pharmaceutical company (case in point, Julie Gerberding, formerly of the CDC, now head of Merck's vaccine division). Thus, the recommendation of the flu vaccine for pregnant women and infants was not only used to institute a cover-up, but it was also used to protect and enhance positions, power, and profits. I think it is imperative that people begin to understand that concern for the health of our children is not at the root of our nation's vaccine program. Quite the opposite. It has now become a covert, widespread operation of trying to cover-up years and years of vaccine-induced disability, illness, and premature death while continuing to cater to the hands that feed them...the powerful, greedy, and corrupt pharmaceutical companies. I have shared this article with many in hopes that mothers-to-be will read and heed your sage advice, and in hopes that a fair number of doctors, nurses, and pharmacists will somehow read this article and make immediate changes in how they practice medicine, returning to a "First, do no harm" mentality and ethicality.

SafeMinds has actually done campaigns to OB/GYNs with a letter from and video done by Dr. Schneider. These are available to anyone who would like to send to their OB/GYNs here: http://www.safeminds.org/protect-yourself/flufacts-learnmore.html

Cindy
As you know, you helped save our son, Colter, from autism. I know they say there is no "cure" for autism, but in Colter's case I disagree. You cured him. I love your articles. They are so informative and factual. Thank you for spreading the truth about vaccines. We all need to be informed and then allowed to make our own decisions based on FACTS...not the medical industry's biased opinions.
Thank you,
Courtney Davis

I'm so happy that Colter is doing well and know how much effort it took on your part and his to make that happen. Let's hope we can educate physicians and young parents about the obvious reasons for the autism epidemic so we can prevent children from going through what ours have endured.

Dear Dr. Cindy,
What an incredible service you have done for pregnant women around the globe who are contemplating (and being pressured to receive) a flu vaccine! I commend not only your knowledge and many years of personal and professional experience, but your courage to stand for the truth regarding the questionable benefits and safety of vaccines. Those interested in natural ways to prevent & treat flu symptoms can go to my published article on the subject:
http://www.sokhop.com/natural-ways-to-prevent-a-winter-cold-and-flu-364

Thank you for those very kind words, Maureen. You have been a champion in the field of prevention and that is the only way to reverse this devastating epidemic. When rates change from 4 per 10,000 to 1 in 68 in less than 20 years, our health officials need to admit they've done something terribly wrong.

Before retiring from nursing October of 2013 I noticed increases in our fetal demise numbers during flu shot promotion months. I worked as a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) for the hospital. For statistic purposes we kept a bottle feeding mother list. That list also included fetal demises. Three years straight I noticed fetal demise numbers increase from 2 to 3 fetal demises per month to 2 to 3 per week. My concerns about the flu shot connection were dismissed. I was unable to do any kind of study. I doubt any of our doctors reported fetal demise following flu shots to VAERS.

You're right, Myra, most adverse events, even fatal one like those you mentioned, go unreported and are written off to other causes. We know that national infant mortality rates increase as the number of vaccines given increases, which is why our country ranks higher in infant mortality than many "less developed" countries.

There are more studies that point to flu vaccines in pregnancy being a bad idea. Shoenfeld, et al have shown that a common side effect of flu vaccines is the development of antiphospholipid antibodies - an inflammatory, auto-immune response that certainly have the potential to impact fetal development during pregnancy.
Antiphospholipid antibodies are associated with placental inflammation, miscarriages, recurrent miscarriages and pregnancy complications.

You're absolutely right, Elizabeth. This is a topic that would best be covered in a book, not a blog, as there is so much important information that needs to be shared. The evidence of induced immune dysregulation is overwhelming.